The Quilting Season Is More Than a Retail Store

, now in its 10th year at its current location, is a retail store offering everything  one could imagine for creating textile projects. They stock a huge variety of fabrics and threads, have drop-in times to work, learn and socialize, provide classes on everything from quilting projects, both machine and hand, to lectures on women’s history. The store also supports many charitable organizations with projects they create.

Mary Liz Schoenfeld is the public relations person for the shop, and she's also a mega quilting enthusiast. She writes the shop newsletter and organizes many of the events in the store. One for instance, that took place on a recent Saturday morning, was the UFO Completion celebration. UFO stands for UnFinished Objects. Each participant in the group pledged how many unfinished projects they would work on to complete by the end of March.

Schoenfeld expressed the key to getting projects done. 

“You have to have a project that is portable,” she said. “What else is there to do in a car? If you have a little tote bag, you can get so much done.” 

She joked about how she would sew in the dentist chair if she was allowed to.

On Saturday, April 16, the UFO group of ladies shared coffee, tea and baked goods, as well as their list of accomplishments. The conversation mostly revolved around their love of quilting, and how it is such a wonderful part of their lives, all for different reasons.

“What happens with quilting, is it is a way to get to know each other,” said Mary Hogan, a UFO attendee. 

Many of the quilts have meaning, but according to Hogan, “Sometimes they are just for fun, or are practical.”

For Marlene Koogan, who drove all the way from Erie to attend the celebration, it is a way to continue her creativity. 

“I’m a designer who started designing clothes, then to interior design,’ Koogan said.  “Now I make wall quilts for visual art.” 

Koogan also enjoys making quilts for her children and grandchildren to remember her by.

Charlotte Wood talked about how difficult it is to stick with just one project.  She originally pledged to complete four projects. 

“I finished one, but then started three new ones!”

Mary Lindquist is the owner of The Quilting Season, and is adored by all who visit.  “Mary is the heart of the place,’ Hogan said.

Chris Jones added, “Mary is the one who draws everyone in.”

Lindquist has been a quilter for thirty years or more. She began with her young daughters and nieces when they took trips up north. 

“I would set a project for the trip, and if it was a rainy day, we would sew,” she said.

Both daughters have been previous owners or involved in the shop in past years, but it is Lindquist who keeps the shop expanding more and more into the community.

“We help Saline second graders with their quilts for Weber-Blaess school,” she said.

Lindquist has groups who make quilts for Arbor Hospice and heads up a huge project for kids at Mott’s Children’s Hospital.

“There is a group of ladies at Mill Pond Manor who help to make pillow cases for kids at Mott’s,” Lindquist said. “We are always looking for people to donate cute kids fabric, preferably cotton, so that we can give more kids more pillowcases.”  Lindquist has a dream to be able to dress each bed in the newly remodeled Mott’s hospital for its re-opening. Preemie quilts are also made for Mott’s, and are specially sized to fit in incubators. These quilts must be 100% made of cotton, down to the thread, to prevent static electricity.

Another option for quilting enthusiasts is a monthly lesson about women in history, and an opportunity to work on a group project called “Block of the Month”.  

“Women want to know history,” Lindquist said. 

A group of women will work on a quilt depicting a certain era, then the quilt will be displayed during a lecture. Currently they are working on Civil War Chronicles, next month will feature Women of the South. Previous themes have been Americana Modern and First Ladies.

If patrons like the idea of themes, The Quilting Season is also one of eight stops on the Shop Hop. It is described as a quilting tour, not unlike what wine enthusiasts would do on a winery tour. The theme for the next Shop Hop is “Our Neighborhood Block Party.” Passports for the event are available now at the shop.  The tour will be the weekend of June 16-18.

“We have a lot of fun here,” said Lindquist.  “And it is just plain healthy to be with other people to socialize and be a part of a community.”

For more information on The Quilting Season, their store, classes, events and charities, visit their website at www.thequiltingseason.com.